How The Sacramento Kings Can Find Their Style & Identity

The Sacramento Kings want to play uptempo basketball.

These are the words that the Sacramento Kings need to use to describe their playing style. Does coach Dave Joerger really think they are executing that now? Not yet, but maybe sometime in the near future.

If the Kings wanted to run an uptempo style of play, they could have kept George Karl and he would have traded DeMarcus Cousins when his trade value was high. Plus, Karl was well known for running an 18-second shot clock or less to speed the offense up in practice.

Well, it is too late now and Joerger is Sacramento’s guy who has to prove this year his brand of hoops. The Kings need to increase the speed of bringing the ball up. It is not fastbreak basketball all the time, but more of playing the game with a lot of energy and urgency. Faster play at all times and being comfortable playing at that pace.

For any basketball team to be successful, they have to play as a unit, especially when playing at a fast pace. The team has to want to run and be effective while doing it. The purpose of running an uptempo style is the opposing defenses cannot get set into position. The other advantage is that opponents get worn down and tired of trying to stay one step ahead. If a team is able to get a half of dozen more easy baskets per game, they will have more success.

The Roster Is Built To Run

This year it is looking good as the Kings have the same group of guys. They have spent time in the offseason playing together, which was optional on their part. This group of players look to be sick of losing and have put in the work to be better. It will show this year when the Kings play their first preseason game.

We will see if the Kings can play a faster pace with the speedster De’Aaron Fox running the show. Yogi Ferrell is a great backup point guard and Frank Mason III can also run with the best of them. Even if they all have slightly different styles of play.

The Kings are solid at the guard position, and the forward /center positions are going to be competitive as they are loaded with veterans and young talent. The only rookie is Marvin Bagley III who is very raw but still inexperienced. The no-rush approach is a nice luxury to have for the rookie.

The small forward position is the only weak spot, but the Kings do have options due to their versatile players. Nemanja Bjelica and Iman Shumpert can back up Justin Jackson. Bogdan Bogdanovic can play at the three as well when the Kings want to play small ball. That said, the Kings this year have a good starting lineup and some depth on their bench that they have not had in a long time.

Have The Uptempo Mindset

It is one thing to want to run an uptempo offense, but one has to play a fast pace for it to be true. Last year I could not say what style the Kings played. Honestly, it was changing with every game they played. There were too many trips up the floor where they walked the ball up the court even when Dave Joerger could be seen on the sidelines encouraging his team to speed it up.

According to the numbers, the Kings were 30th in pace and 30th in points scored per game. This is why a practice clock in training camp must be set at 18 seconds or less. The Kings need to play in a hurried fashion. Always quick and with purpose. Any opportunity to run, they need to run. Then the purple and white will have the identity that Joerger wants them to have.

DeAaron Fox Is The Driving Force

It starts and ends with De’Aaron Fox. He must push to how Joerger wants it. Fox was built to run and this season is his time to own it. The keys to the team are his 100%. We do not expect him to be perfect, but just ready and hard working.

De’Aaron is not going to carry the whole team in a Michael Jordan fashion. But he needs to set the tone and pace for the whole team and game. Playing fast is what will be the home team’s advantage. Gone are the days of walking the ball up the court slowly. Even in a half-court set, the players and ball should be moving nonstop. With the guys cutting and moving constantly, a mismatch or open shot will become available. They cannot be the team who gets tired.

Why I Am Optimistic

Over the years I have been called out for being too hard on the prospects of success for the Kings. Last year I said mid-twenties for wins without factoring in the easy wins a squad gets when competing against tanking teams. The Kings won 27 games, with others in the NBA predicting 30 plus.

I want the Kings to win. I want them to eventually bring an NBA title to Sacramento. This town would go nuts and the fans deserve it. This year I expect the team to win more than the 25 wins predicted. A little growth from the players and coaches will make them a better team. Not saying that the Kings make the playoffs, but saying more than 27 wins and an exciting prospect of better days ahead.

I expect the home team to find their groove along with finally having some chemistry and the rest of the NBA world saying they are a team on the move. AN IDENTITY!